A silver blur streaked across the battlefield, leaving behind a trail of dust.
By the time Professor X even registered what was happening~
CRACK!
Quicksilver's fist slammed into Apocalypse's jaw, sending the ancient mutant flying backward.
Pietro didn't stop. Before Apocalypse could land, another strike smashed into his gut.
Then another.
Then another.
To the rest of the X-Men, it looked like Apocalypse was floating in mid-air, his body jerking back and forth in unnatural angles.
To Quicksilver, the world was frozen in time, and Apocalypse was his personal punching bag.
"How do you like that, huh? Not so powerful when you can't react, are you?"
Fist after fist, a thousand strikes in under a second.
Apocalypse's once-pristine robes were now torn and bloodied, his expression frozen.
Then… the desert sand shifted.
What the?!
Quicksilver barely had time to think before the sand beneath his feet turned into solid tendrils.
His body froze mid-motion, his legs encased in sand.
His eyes widened. Shit.
A low chuckle echoed through the battlefield.
"Brave boy," Apocalypse's voice emerged from the dust. "But too young."
CRACK!
Pain exploded up Pietro's leg as Apocalypse's foot slammed into his ankle.
The bones breaking shatter filled the air.
Quicksilver screamed.
"PIETRO!" Jean cried out, panic in her voice.
Mystique, rage flickering in her yellow eyes, charged.
Before anyone could stop her, Mystique's form shifted. Her blue skin vanished, replaced by Psylocke's appearance.
She strode forward with calm, holding a katana firmly in her hands.
Apocalypse turned to face her, his eyes narrowing slightly. Then, he smiled.
"Ah… Psylocke. Kill him."
Mystique did not hesitate. In one swift motion, she swung the sword with all her strength.
The blade sliced clean across Apocalypse's throat.
Mystique's and Pietro's eyes widened in horror.
The wound was there. She could see bone. But instead of blood, the flesh knitted itself back together.
Completely healed.
Apocalypse's expression never changed.
His hand lashed out, wrapping around her throat like a steel vise.
Mystique's body lifted off the ground. She struggled, clawing at his fingers, but his grip only tightened.
Her vision blurred as she changed back to her original form.
Her lungs screamed for air.
She was going to die.
But, her fingers brushed against something.
A business card… Soren Macaluso's business card.
His words rang in her fading consciousness. "If you're in danger, crush it. No matter where you are."
With the last ounce of her strength, Mystique crushed the card.
A blinding blue light engulfed her. She was gone.
Apocalypse's grip closed on empty air.
His expression, for the first time, changed.
The X-Men, Apocalypse, everyone stared at the empty space where Mystique had just been.
"Hey, Apocalypse~"
Apocalypse turned, only for Quicksilver to grin weakly.
In his broken hand, he held another card.
"Bye."
Another flash of light. Quicksilver disappeared.
Kurt and Hank stood frozen, their eyes wide.
Kurt blinked. "The doctor's card…?"
Jean's lips parted in disbelief. "It… worked?"
Apocalypse's face twisted in rage. They were supposed to die here.
This was not over.
A flash of light filled the pristine white lobby of Everlife Medical Center.
Two figures appeared, one crashing to the ground unconscious, the other collapsing onto his knees, panting.
"Dr. Soren!" Quicksilver's voice rang out as he clutched his shattered ankle.
Mystique lay motionless beside him, her breathing shallow.
Somewhere within the medical center, a man smiled.
He had felt them from the moment the business cards were crushed. Setting down a herb he had been examining, he casually flicked his wrist.
His figure blurred, and before Quicksilver could take another breath, Soren was already standing in front of them.
"How did you do this?" Soren mused, crouching down. His eyes flickered with interest as he examined their wounds.
A broken leg, severe bruising, fractured ribs, signs of a brutal fight.
But what truly intrigued him wasn't their injuries. It was them.
Mystique, a master of mimicry. Quicksilver, a living force of speed force.
Both… fascinating.
"Not light injuries at all." Soren mused. He stretched out his hands.
A green glow radiated from his fingertips, bathing the room in an eerie yet comforting light.
The energy pulsed, drifting toward Mystique and Quicksilver. The moment the green light touched his skin, Quicksilver gasped.
The pain in his ankle faded.
No... it reversed.
He watched in awe as his broken bones mended themselves. His bruises? Gone.
"Holy shit." He whispered. "This feels like—" He exhaled slowly, eyes closing for a moment.
"Like a hot spring?" Soren grinned.
Quicksilver blinked at him. "Yes, how'd you know?"
"You're not the first person to enjoy my work." Soren said lightly.
As the last of the green glow faded, Mystique stirred. She groaned softly, then blinked rapidly.
At first, she looked dazed and confused. Then, realization hit. She shot up, her hands gripping her arms.
Her head snapped toward Soren. "What… what did you do?"
Soren smiled. "Fixed you."
Mystique pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her steady heartbeat.
She had been on the brink of death moments ago.
She felt healthier than ever. Her yellow eyes softened slightly. "Thank you."
Soren waved a hand dismissively. "A little effort. No big deal."
Mystique exhaled sharply. "No. It is."
Quicksilver stretched his arms out, testing his recovered body. He grinned. "So, do I owe you a copay, or…?"
Soren chuckled.
[Beep. Congratulations, Host.]
A system notification rang through his mind.
[You have healed a B-class character: Mystique.]
[You have healed a B+-class character: Quicksilver.]
Soren's smile widened as new text appeared.
System Rewards
[Mystique: B-class]
→ Available Ability: Mimicry Lv8, Firearm Proficiency Lv5
→ [Acquired: Firearm Proficiency Lv5]
[Quicksilver: B+-class]
→ Available Ability: Super Speed Lv7
→ [Acquired: Super Speed Lv7]
Soren barely contained his delight. Quicksilver's speed? That was the power to put everyone into slow motion.
Mystique's shapeshifting would've been nice, but beggars couldn't be choosers. "Fantastic."
Quicksilver raised an eyebrow. "What's fantastic?"
"Nothing." Soren replied smoothly. "Only thinking."
Quicksilver smirked. "Thinking about how insanely cool I am?"
Soren snorted. "Sure, let's go with that."
Mystique shook her head. "We don't have time for jokes."
Her expression darkened. "Charles and the others are still fighting Apocalypse."
Soren glanced at her but didn't respond.
She continued, "We can't just sit here! Dr. Soren, can you~"
Soren held up a hand.
"Calm yourself." He said, his voice smooth. "As long as Jean Grey is there, Charles and the others won't die."
Mystique and Quicksilver exchanged looks.
"Jean?" Mystique repeated, skeptical.
Soren nodded.
"Jean's power is beyond anything Apocalypse has ever faced."
Mystique frowned. "Mr. Soren… I think you're overestimating her. Jean has only just started to grasp her powers. Her combat ability is~"
Soren chuckled. "You think I don't know that?"
"But I also know what's inside her."
Quicksilver folded his arms. "And what's that?"
Before Soren could speak~
A new light flashed in the room.
The air rippled, and three more figures appeared. Kurt. Hank. Scott.
All three collapsed to the ground, wounded, panting.
Soren raised a brow. "Well, now. Seems like a party."
He extended his hand again and just like before, the green light pulsed outward.
Healing them instantly.
Quicksilver whistled. "Man, that's never gonna get old."
Mystique, however, had no time to appreciate the miracle. She turned to the new arrivals, her eyes blazing.
"How bad is it?" she demanded.
Kurt exhaled sharply. "Bad."
Hank nodded grimly. "None of us could stop him."
Scott clenched his fists. "At the last moment, Erik stepped in. He held Apocalypse off while we escaped."
Mystique's breath hitched.
"Erik's still there?!"
Kurt nodded.
Mystique turned sharply toward Soren. "We have to go back! We can't let them..."
Soren simply smiled.
"You still don't get it, do you?"
Mystique glared at him. "Get what?"
"Jean is about to awaken."